Former India cricketer, now cricket expert and commentator Aakash Chopra urged Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) with folded hands to dropped all-rounder Liam Livingston from playing XI against Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the Qualifier 1 match, set to be held on May 29 at Mullanpur. 

RCB has been in stunning form and has not lost any match outside Bengaluru so far in IPL 2025. Virat Kohli and Co. can step into Mullanpur's stadium as the favorite to win due to their stats. With a strong opening combination supported by a well-decorated middle order, their batting lineup is durable even in tough circumstances. But there is at least one weak point in RCB's playing combination, which is Liam Livingston, theand all-rounder, who threw his wicket for a golden duck against Lucknow Super Giants. 

Now, ahead of Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings, Aakash Chopra requested RCB management through his YouTube video to drop the all-rounder who is yet to perform for Bengaluru and never performed for his previous IPL team, Punjab. Chopra clearly said that Livingston is now going to perform any match knock for RCB vs. Punjab Kings.

Read More: IPL 2025: Top 3 reasons RCB should win Qualifier 1 against Punjab Kings

Why Chopra preferred to drop Liam Livingston from playing combination?

"Rajat Patidar is the only guy who hasn't scored the runs. I would say you should drop Liam Livingstone. Ist it of you with folded hands. He used to play for Punjab, and he never made Punjab win. He won't make you win either," the former cricketer said this on a YouTube video. 

Due toher all-rounder, Tim David's, leg injury, Bengaluru was forced to make a change in the playing lineup and included Livingston in place of David. Liam has so far played 8 IPL 2025 matches for RCB, batted in 7 innings with an underwhelming 14.50 batting average, including a 54-run innings. In the 2024 season of IPL, when he was with Punjab Kings, he batted 7 innings for a 22.20 average. The 31-year-old had played three consecutive seasons for the Punjab-based franchise, and his performance graph barely looked attractive.